Some tools for e-learning

Foto: bongkarn thanyakij

I wanted share a post about e-learning thinking many teachers are looking for information about it nowadays. No links (in the table) were provided, since this was first intended as a PDF document for the teachers in my kids’ school. I will try to provide all links of the apps and platforms in the table, if I have some time. I will provide some information about the ones that  I have used. (Yeah, I don't have experience with all of them). The following table includes various tools that might be useful for creating e-learning and you can find information about some of them under the table:

Tools for e-learning
Platforms or websites	Wix.com
	Canvas (free)
	Blackboard
	Teachable
	Moodle
	Coursera
	YouTube
	Google Classroom (free)
	Skype
	Iversity
Audio/Video	Movie maker
	iMovie
	Clips
	PowerPoint
	Chirbit
	Garage Band
	Moovly (also have free version)
Animation	Powtoon
	Kahoot (free)
	Anikmaker
	Adobe Animate
	Go animate
	Prezi
	Sctratch 3 (free)
	https://gifmaker.me/  (free)
	Autodraw (free, online)
Authoring	Xerte (free)
	Coassemble
	mAuthor
Games	EducaPlay (free)
	Kahoot (free)

• Canvas instructure (https://canvas.instructure.com/login/canvas ) is a free platform you can use to build your course. You need to sign up for a free account and start using immediately. You can design modules (it is like working on a word file you can simply write text), add quizzes, announcement, discussions on a screen like as follows. You can also upload for example PowerPoints, word/pdf files, photos or videos (your own or links to YouTube etc) to Canvas.
• Graphics (figures, illustrations, concept maps), audios to explain a topic, and texts (definitions, explanations, lists etc.) can be used for preparing online courses. Using any two of these at the same time is recommended instead of using just one or all three at the same time. For example, it is possible to make videos with PowerPoint, recording your voice in the PowerPoint file and share it as a video with your students. In addition to videos, figures, illustrations, concept maps, even use of color, different font types and sizes etc. can make online courses interesting and easy to understand. Besides, any graphics, audios or text used should be relevant to the content that is learned. Otherwise they might distract the students.
• Autodraw (https://www.autodraw.com/ ) by google is a practical tool to draw anything, even people with limited drawing skills and experience can use it. (The artificial intelligence matches what you draw with the ones drawn by professionals). Besides, kahoot is easy to use and interesting for the students to make games, competitions and animations. While moviemaker and Clips (an application of apple) can be used make videos.

Further information about e-learning:

• For some other tools you can visit: https://vubmes.wixsite.com/e-learning#!tools/couh & https://vubmes.wixsite.com/e-learning/tools

• This site is from KU Leuven about kennisclips: https://www.kuleuven.be/onderwijs/docentenaanbod/kennisclips

Augmented reality for teaching 1. Osmo (https://www.playosmo.com/): Osmo is a gaming accessory for iPads, which is provided along with various educational games and apps for children. https://youtu.be/CbwIJMz9PAQ 2. Interactive sandboxes https://youtu.be/CE1B7tdGCw0: It can be used to teach topography, geology and geography, or as a usual sandbox for playing.  3. Augmented reality coloring books (http://www.disneyresearch.com/publication/live-texturing-of-augmented-reality-characters/) They are  good alternatives for "coloring book" apps on a tablet. https://youtu.be/SWzurBQ81CM 4. Elements 4D http://elements4d.daqri.com/: It is designed for chemistry classes. By pointing your camera at a block depicting some chemical element, then you can read about the elements on the screen, combine the elements to see the results of a chemical reaction or enter the "Atomic mode" to see the atomic structure of the element. https://youtu.be/TyxmMxFM5n8 & https://youtu.be/oOdMfgloUD0

Please feel free to leave a comment and share your own experiences...